Fleetwood Town snap up another centre half

Rosie Swarbrick

Fleetwood Town have snapped up out of contract Southend United defender Cian Bolger on a three year deal.

The 24-year-old centre half was released by Town’s League One rivals Southend earlier this month after a two year spell.

The former Leicester City trainee and Bolton player made 25 appearances in all competitions for the Essex side last season.

The ex-Republic of Ireland Under 21 international ended the campaign on loan at fellow League One side Bury and featured nine times.

And Bolger, who is Town’s third signing of the week after non-league hot-shot Ashley Nadesan joined from Sussex side Horley Town and out of contract Rochdale centre half Ashley Eastham says Town can push for promotion from League One.

He said: “It’s a long deal and is a statement of intent from the club.

“It shows that they want to push on and achieve great things and that’s why I’ve come here.

“The intent from the chairman (Andy Pilley) and the manager (Steven Pressley) and where they want to get the club is obvious. There’s a great infrastructure here with the new training facility.

“It’s a club that’s certainly got the possibilities to kick on to the next level again because the success over the past few years has been phenomenal.

“The chairmanand the manager seem good people and have the interest of this club at their hearts.

“They certainly want to take this Club forward.”

The Celbridge born defender admitted that he wants to put last season behind him, and that he is now fully focused on the kicking on with Town.

He said: “Last season was a bit of a strange one for me personally. I was playing at Southend to begin with and felt I was doing quite well.